Track & Field gets four school records at LaCrosse

Non-team scored
at LaCrosse (M-W), May 15, 2009

St. Thomas track and field had a big night Thursday at the UW-LaCrosse Qualifier meet with four school records and several improved NCAA qualifying times and marks.

On the women's side, junior All-American Erin Sprangers (pictured at right) ran an NCAA automatic time for the 800 meters of 2:09.97 in a close second place to Bethel national champ Marie Borner. Sprangers broke UST's school record and became the first Tommie runner to break 2:10. Her time now ranks fifth nationally.

In the 4x100 relay, the Tommies clocked 47.65 for second place behind UW-La Crosse. That improves UST's provisional qualifying time from 11th to seventh on list, as its previous best was 48.26  

Senior Shionna Evans took second in the 400 meters in 57.00, an NCAA provo time and now ranks 19th in the nation. Evans' previous career best was 57.60 last week in the MIAC meet.  

On the men's side, the Tommies broke a school record in the 4x100 as they clocked 40.75, the fastest time thus far in Division III. UST's previous season best was 41.30. James Ewer, Pat Jager, Phil Bastron and Joe DeFrance comprised the relay and broke a six-year-old school record.   

Senior Kyle Brandon (pictured at right) won a fast and deep 1,500 meters as he hit an NCAA automatic time and broke a 23-year-old school-record in 3:49.14. Brandon became the first Tommie to break 3:50 as he eclipsed Jim Larranaga's 3:50.06 record time from 1986. He's now ranked third in Division III.  

In the 800, Brian Sames (pictured below right) broke a 22-year-old St. Thomas record as he ran 3:51.02 for first place. The old record was 1:51.18 by Mark DeFor. That also is an NCAA automatic time and ranks fifth in Division III. Mike Hutton set a freshman record as he placed third in 1:51.62, the seventh fastest time overall.  

Andrew Brueggen improved his hammer throw as he placed first in 185-11 -- the third best mark in UST history and fourth best this season in Division III.  

Three other Tommies added season-best times -- Mike Connell ran 9:30.99 for fifth in the steeplechase; freshman Ben Sathre ran 14:59.64 for second in the 5,000 meters; and Joe Rohlfing was fourth in the 400 hurdles in 54.94.  

A few Tommies may compete tonight in Naperville, Ill., at another qualifier meet.  

Click here to see complete results: http://www.uwlax.edu/athletics/mtrack/09qualifierresults.html